Baking Club

A couple years ago I baked frequently with the children.  The larger the group became the further from the kitchen we ended up.  Our classroom is now at the opposite end of the school from the daycare; it has its pros & cons.  "Con":  we're far from the kitchen, "Pro's": we have our own space to work in, I now have a second staff with me...which means I can take a group to the kitchen.
Anywho, we were sitting around the snack table one afternoon eating maple cookies and one of the children spoke up "we should make our own cookies" and that's when I realized that YES, we can make our own cookies.  I called a team meeting the next day and had the children brainstorm some snack ideas.  They suggested everything from peabutter cookies to hard boiled eggs and from that "Baking Club" was formed. 
This upcoming week i'll be helping guide the children as they make Scones. 

Blueberry Flax Scones:
3 cups flour
1 1/2 Tbsp. baking powder
1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tbsp. grated lemon zest
1/2 cup margarine (or butter)
1 egg
1/4 cup applesauce
1/3 cup milk
3/4 cup frozen blueberries
1/4 cup flax seed
Extras: parchment paper, pastry cutter, wax paper, rolling pin

To Make:
1)Preheat oven to 375F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

2) Whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon and lemon zest in a large bowl.  Cut in margarine with pastry cutter (or two butter knives); set aside.

3) In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, applesauce and milk until well combined. 

4) Make a well in the middle of dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients; stir with a spatula until a ball just begins to form (if too dry add another teaspoon of milk).  Fold in blueberries and flax.

5) Spread out a piece of wax paper.  Gather ball of dough in hands and plunk it onto the wax paper; add another piece of paper on top.  Use your hands to flatten the dough a little and then roll it to about a 2.5 cm (1 inch) thickness.

6) Bake 15-20 min's or until the scones are golden on the bottom.  (Optional: drizzle with confection. sugar icing)  Eat them with a little spread of jam or butter or enjoy them as they are :)

Until You Read Again.....

SnAcK AtTaCk #2

"Flower Pots"

This was a treat snack we had during our end-of-school party. 

Originally we were suppose to make the classic worms & dirt, but I forgot to pick up the gummi worms...opps!  It's what I like to call a happy accident.

What we used:

~ instant pudding

~ crushed chocolate cookie wafers

~ melon slices

~ plastic cups or clean flower pots

~ bamboo sticks

~ green ribbon or mint leaf gummie candy

How we made it:

~ Whip up instant pudding and divide into cups.  Sprinkle cookie crumbs on top.

~ Cut melon into 1/2 inch slices and cut out the flower shapes with cookie cutters.  Don't forget to eat the delicious scrap's!

~ Tie ribbon to bamboo sticks and insert into "flowers"; stand up in "pots" and keep refrigerated. 

(Note: 2 sm. pkgs of instant pudding made 18 flower pots filled with about 1/3 cup of pudding.)

The children made these with very little assistance from myself and it was the most popular treat that afternoon!

Until You Read Again......

SnAcK AtTaCk #1

After school can be a great time to teach children basic cooking skills and they often seem to enjoy eating new foods when they've had a hand in making them.

Fancy Toast 
Sliced bread
Peanut butter (or Pea butter or Soy butter)
Honey, liquid
Toasted pumpkin seeds
Dried cranberries

1) Toast bread and spread with peanut (or other) buter.
2) Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and cranberries.
3) Eat it all gone...yum!
*You can switch up the combo of dried fruits and seeds. Fill up little bowls full and the children can pick and choose their own!



 What's your favourite after school snack?  Share the recipe here!
Until You Read Again.....